Family childcare

[Elastagirl1]

I am in discussion with a family member about me potentially offering some childcare alongside my own child. We would like it to run as smoothly as possible.
What topics should we cover or expectations should we discuss to try to make sure there aren't surprises or misunderstandings?

I would cover nap and diet expectations, what to expect if you’re unwell and what to expect if the child is or becomes unwell.

My mother does one day a week, I let her deal with nap frequency and duration as she sees fit as I want her to be able to plan her own days. Same with food, I just ask not too much junk and nothing after 3pm so they eat dinner.

If she’s too unwell to have them she’ll let me know asap, if she’s slightly rough I’ll do a shorter day.

She’s pretty chilled about illness but I always give her warning and wouldn’t expect her to have them with a stomach bug.

I wouldn't do it, to be honest unless you're the grandparent.

Do you mind me asking why?

Some ideas that we discussed included expectations around: first aid/emergency care ie if parent is uncontactable what should you do, illness in either household, diet, where you can and can't go (e.g notorious soft play for D&V in the next town), routines, money for petrol/entry fees etc, and things like approach around sharing/behaviour if out and about.

Yes just to add, I’m conscious that my mother pays for their food and activities when she’s with them and she’s fine with that but I don’t know how it would be if my siblings were to do it regularly

Expectations around food, drop off/pick up times. Illness of their child/you/your child. Bad behavior. Behavior strategies. Potty training. What happens if you need a holiday/week off. What happens if you become pregnant/have another.

Supplying wet weather/outdoor gear. And sun hat/creams etc.

Activities. If you go to a farm/adventure playground/soft play... want to join a music class for toddlers. Who pays?

Illness....if their child has a sickness bug for example, how long would you want them to stay home for to avoid it being passed to your child & vice versa

Most importantly, remuneration. Will you be paid or is it a favour? What will the hourly rate be? Or will it be another type of remuneration? Will they reimburse you for your costs? Which costs? How much? What exactly are try days/hours you will work?

Secondly, what will happen if/when you can't look after her child? What happens when you/they go on holiday? Do they still pay you? Do you need to give them a set amount of notice of a holiday? Do you have to limit your holidays? What happens when you're sick? When your child is sick? When their child is sick?

Third, day to day fundamentals like food, discipline and activities. Make sure you're either on the same page or can agree to disagree. Take into consideration what will happen with all this 6 months/a year/two years down the line.

I've just seen too many examples of it going wrong 😑